Japan is the latest destination to ask travelers who are eligible to enter without a visa to register themselves and their travel intentions in advance. The change won’t happen anytime soon, however; the target date is 2030.
However, funding to start the process is in the coming year’s budget, and officials outlined how the system would operate. Prospective visitors would register online, similar to the ESTA system used by the U.S. and would be required to state the purpose of the visit and where they will stay. EU will also start a similar system next year.
The government says the aim of the new system is to reduce the number of illegal immigrants who come to Japan from visa-exempt countries and regions and remain beyond the valid period of stay, which currently ranges from 14-90 days depending on the passport.
Screeners will identify applications they consider to be a violation risk, and the applicants will be told to go to a local Japanese embassy or consulate to obtain an official visa. Travelers without either registration or a visa won’t be able to board planes to Japan
